Western Australia

Deserts separate Western Australia from the Northern Territory and South Australia to the east, while the Timor Sea, Indian Ocean, and Southern Ocean border the north, west and south, respectively. The territory covers one-third of the island continent and Perth is its capital.

Land

Most of the region is sparsely wooded. The Fitzroy is the state's largest river, while the Ord has been dammed at Kununurra to form Lake Argyle, Australia's largest freshwater lake. South of the Kimberly region lie the 26 to 30 foot high linear sand dunes of the Great Sandy Desert and to the southwest lies the Pilbara region, a rugged, arid landscape of ancient folded and uplifted rocks. It is southwest of the Yilgarn block that the state's only true forests and permanently flowing streams are found.

Flora and Fauna

It is estimated that there are more than 7,000 species of indigenous vascular plants, more than 2,400 of which are endemic to the southwest.

Cultural

Major writers include the poet Fay Zwicky; the poet and playwright Dorothy Hewett; the historical authors Mary Durack and Katharine Susannah Prichard; the novelists Randolph Stow an Elizabeth Jolly; the Aboriginal, auth-biographical author Sally Morgan; and the playwright Jack Davis.

New South Wales

Northern Territory

Queensland

South Australia

Tasmania

Victoria

Australian Capital Territory

Western Australia